Ghais Guevara
 |
Ghais Guevara | |
|---|---|
| Also known as |
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| Born | Jaja Gha'is Robinson October 9, 2000 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instrument | Vocals |
| Works | |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Label | Fat Possum |
Jaja Gha'is Robinson (born October 9, 2000), known professionally as Ghais Guevara, Goyard Ibn Said and Jaja00, is an American rapper, record producer and political activist from Philadelphia. Robinson entered the music scene in 2019 under the alias Jaja00. He garnered attention as Ghais Guevara with the release of his mixtape BlackBolshevik. Guevara is known for his bold expression of geopolitical communist ideologies in his lyrics.[1]
Career
[edit]2020–2022: BlackBolshevik and There Will be No Super-Slave
[edit]Robinson released the EP Black August Pack on October 8, 2021. On July 16, 2022, he released his second mixtape, There Will be No Super-Slave, which garnered significant mainstream attention,[2] earning praise from figures such as YouTuber and music critic Anthony Fantano[3] and other prominent media outlets. There Will be No Super-Slave's title is inspired by George Jackson's book Blood in My Eye.[4] Robinson utilized criticism of the mixtape in future releases.[5]
2023–2025: Goyard Ibn Said and The Other 2/5ths
[edit]Robinson debuted another alias in 2023, Goyard Ibn Said, inspired by Omar ibn Said.[6] Robinson released a mixtape, Goyard Comin': Exordium on June 2, 2023. Robinson signed with Fat Possum records in September 2024[7] and Goyard Ibn Said, Robinson's first album with the label,[8] released on January 24, 2025.[9] The lead single, The Old Guard is Dead, played shortly before and after Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance at the Super Bowl LIX.[10]
On March 9, 2026, Robinson released Goyard & The Kayfabe Reveal.[11] The LP continues the saga of Goyard Ibn Said and features readings from Friedrich Nietzsche, Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari, and Lacanian psychoanalyst Bruce Fink.[12]
Influences and artistry
[edit]Robinson draws inspiration from a diverse array of musical influences,[13] citing figures such as Jermaine Dupri, 50 Cent, Lauryn Hill, Outkast, and Yasiin Bey[14] as pivotal to his creative development.[5] Inspired by Outkast and Andre 3000's lyrical delivery, he uses experimentation and eclecticism in his own work.[15]
Political activism
[edit]Robinson’s music is characterized by a strong emphasis on political themes and ideological expression.[6] Known for his chaotic, confronting, and cathartic style, Guevara explores themes of Black pain, violence, and joy in his music, often intertwining them with geopolitical communist ideologies. In an interview with Vice, he highlighted his approach, stating, "there's no other rapper doing geopolitical communist rap".[1] Guevara's lyrics often address societal issues, with tracks like "Fuck The Nordic Model" and "Mimicry Of The Settlers" critiquing imperialism and colonial powers.[16]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Help Me Pay My Rent (2019, as Jaja00)[a]
- Failure to Communicate (2019, as Jaja00)[a]
- Opele (2019, as Jaja00)[a]
- Black Psychiatric Negligence (2020, as Jaja00)[a]
- Westernophobia (2020, as Jaja00)[a]
- May Ur Melanin Shield U from Ragnorok (2020, as Jaja00)[a]
- Goyard Ibn Said (2025)
- Goyard & The Kayfabe Reveal (2026)[a]
Mixtapes
[edit]- BlackBolshevik (2021, as Jaja00, re-released as Ghais Guevara)
- There Will Be No Super Slave (2022)
- Free Breakfast for Children (2023, with Free Breakfast for Children)
- Goyard Comin': Exordium (2023, as Goyard Ibn Said; deluxe edition released later the same year)
- The Other 2/5ths or: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Trench Baby (2025)
EPs
[edit]- Sorry I'm So Impulsive (2019, as Jaja00)[a]
- Black August Pack (2021)
- Job's Not Finished Pack (2022)
- Today's Mathematics (2023; compiles Black August Pack and Job's Not Finished Pack)
- A Quest To Self-Mythologize (2025)
Instrumental albums
[edit]Compilation albums
[edit]- D.I.Y 2019-2020 (June 10, 2020, as Jaja00; compiles Opele, Black Psychiatric Negligence, and Westernophobia)[a]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Malo, Jim (2022-12-14). "'There's No Other Rapper Doing Geopolitical, Communist Rap': An Interview with Ghais Guevara". Vice. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ Magazine, Paper (27 December 2022). "PAPER's Favorite Songs of 2022".
- ^ Ghais Guevara - There Will Be No Super-Slave ALBUM REVIEW. Retrieved 2024-04-24 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Atwell, Megan (2023-01-29). "Hip Hop Iconoclast Ghais Guevara talks shop with SCAD Radio". SCAD Radio. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
- ^ a b Ghais Guevara Gives Hot Takes, Talks About Dissing the Queen, and More. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ a b Smith, Niall (2025-01-23). "Ghais Guevara: "We live in an anti-intellectual world. Rap, at its core, is intellectual. I want to bridge that gap"". NME. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Ghais Guevara signs to Fat Possum and shares new single, "Leprosy"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ "Ghais Guevara Is No Longer Finding His Own Way Through Rap". FLOOD. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ Wonderland Staff (2025-01-24). "Ghais Guevera Goes Track-by-Track Through His Debut Album". Wonderland. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ "Ranking Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX Easter Eggs". Complex. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ "Goyard & The Kayfabe Reveal, by Ghais Guevara". Ghais Guevara. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ^ Elise, Alexandria. "Album Review: Goyard & The Kayfabe Reveal by Ghais Guevara". Shatter the Standards. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ^ "Ghais Guevara: "Rap is a pinnacle of our culture"". Huck. 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ GHAIS GUEVARA INTERVIEW: Early Days of Rap, Beat Making, His Favorite Wrestlers, New Music + More!. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Ghais Guevara Talks His Fanbase, Defending Noname, Sample Snitching, & More. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Fife, Alex Gardner, Jacob Moore, Freddie Fine, Arielle Lana LeJarde, Carter. "Best New Artists". Complex. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
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Footnotes
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Robinson has published numerous works online which were later taken down. This includes most of his discography as Jaja00, as well as the series of instrumental beat tapes he released during 2021–2022. These works are poorly documented online. A collection of screenshots of the Spotify and Bandcamp release pages of these works (including their track lists, cover artwork, and original release date) can be found on archive.org: "Ghais Guevara / Jaja00 removed works image archive" via the Internet Archive.